Surgical glove-dusting machine



April 7 Z. M. DUNN ETl'AL SURGICAL GLdvE-DUSTING MACHINE J 54 51 im* 7 April 7,1953 z. M. DUNN Em 2,633,824

SURGICAL GLOVE-BUSTING MACHINE Filed DSC. 15, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented Apr. 7, 1953 SURGICAL GLOVE-DUSTING MACHINE Zessie M. Dunn, Oklahoma City, and John E. Streit, El Reno, Okla.

Application December 15, 1950, Serial No. 201,022

3 Claims.

This invention relates to hospital equipment, and more particularly to a machine for dusting surgical gloves.

An object of this invention is to provide a dusting machine for applying a thin, uniform coating of a suitable compound, such as' talc, to surgical rubber gloves.

Another object of this invention is to provide a surgical glove dusting machine which is constructed in a manner to prevent the escape of dusting talc into the work room, thus protecting the health of the operator and at the same time effecting a saving in the dusting compound.

A further object of this invention is to provide a surgical glove dusting machine for simultaneously applying a uniform lm of a dusting compound of a, desired density to the interior and exterior of rubber surgical gloves.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a machine for dusting rubber surgical gloves which can be easily and quickly manually actuated to dust the gloves, and is further readily portable from place to place.

A still furtherobject of this invention is to provide a machine for dusting surgical gloves which is relatively simple in structure and cheap to manufacture.

`The above and still further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in section, of the surgical glove dusting machine of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectionalview taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the surgical glove dusting machine of the present invention;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken along the line 6 8 of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a, schematic wiring diagram of the electrical circuit for the surgical glovedusting,

2 tom I2, a cylindrical bounding wall I9 and an open top I4. Disposed within the receptacle II intermediate the ends thereof is a funnel-shaped container I5 which is secured within the receptacle II by means of the spaced screws I6. The funnel- 'shaped container I5-has an upwardly opening mouth I l and is adapted to receive a loosened mass of a suitable dusting" compound, such as a rubber glove talc I8.

Bridging the open top I4 of the receptacle II is a closure I9 which includes a dome-*shaped body 20 having an outwardly projecting annular ange 2| and a downwardly depending skirt 22. Secured to the under surface of the annular flange 2| and the exterior surface of the skirt 22 is a rubber gasket 23 whichis L-shaped in crosssection. The gasket 23 cooperates with the adjacent portions of the receptacle Il and the flange 2l and the depending skirt 22 of the closure I9 to form an air-'tight seal between the closure I9 and the receptacle II. The receptacle II, the container I5, and thev closure I9 cooperate to form a dusting chamber 24 of the talc container I5.

Disposed within the dusting chamber 24 is rack 25 which isv detachably mounted on vsuitable brackets 26 for dependingly securing gloves to be dusted within the dust-ing chamber 24. As clearly shown in Figure2, the rack 25 includes the arms 21 and 28 arranged at right angles with respect to each other and having their free ends received within the slots 29 provided in the brackets 2B.' Engageable about the arms 2I and 28 of the rack 25 are spring clips 30 for detachably and dependingly securing gloves within the dusting chamber 24. X 1

Secured within the container lnozzle-supporting conduit 34, a connecting conduit 35 and aconnector 36. As clearly shown in Figure 6, the connectlngconduit 35 includes outwardly flared ends 31 and 38, the conduit 35 extendingl through an aperture 39 provided in the conical wall of the container I5. Circumposed I5 l*contiguous to the bottom thereof is an air-injection nozzle about the connecting conduit 35 contiguous to the ared ends 31 and 38 thereof are the nuts 40 and 40 which are supported in threaded engagement with the connecting conduit 35. As clearly shown, the nut 40 is adapted to threadedly engage with the adjacent end of the arcuate nozzle-supporting conduit 34 to form an airtight seal between theconduit -34 and the adjacent iiared end v38 of the connecting conduit 35. The connector 36, which is circumposed about the connecting conduit 35 includes a pair of abutments 4I and 42 having `their confronting faces 43 and 44 beveled and shaped; complementary with respect to the adjacent portions of the conical wall of the container I5. Interposed be# tween the confronting faces 43 andv 44 of the abutments 4I and 42 are washers 45 and 46, fabricated of leather or the like, which are urged into bearing and abutting relation with respect v to the conical wall of the container I by means of the clamp nuts, 41 and '48 which are threadedly supported on the connecting conduit 315 and bear against the non-confronting faces of the abutments 4I and'42.

Disposed within the vreceptacle 'it below the container l5 is a compressor 50 which is mounted on the bottom I2, of theY receptacley I I. The compressor 5i! includes an air outlet. 5I' and is driven by an electric motor 5,2 which is likewise disposed interiorly of the receptacle I I and mounted on the bottom I2 thereof, the motor 52 being coupled to the compressor 50 by a belt 53. As clearly shown in Figure I, the cylindricalwall I3 of the receptacle II is vprovided. with a hinged door 5d permitting access to the interior of the receptacle and to the 'compressor' 50- and the motor k52. Spaced above the hinged door 54 is a junction box 55 which receives :the electric vcord 5E from the motor. 52.

The outlet 5I ofthe compressor 5I) is connected through a combined oil separatorv and safety valve 56 and a normally closed magnetic valve 51 to the air-injectioninozzle 32. 'As clearly illustrated in Figure l, the-outlet 5I Vof theV compressor 5t is connected through an elbow joint 58 and a coupling 59 to one side of the separator 55, the other side of the separator being connected by a coupling 60 to thev adjacent side of the electromagnetic control' valve 51.` The other side of the control valve 5.1 is connected by means of a conduit' 6| tothe flared end31 of. the connecting `conduitV 35. i Accordingly, a closed flow system is provided from the airzcompressor 50 to the airinjection valve32-through'the outlet 5|,'the elbow 58, the connecting coupling 59, the air filter 55, the connecting coupling 60', `the. normallyv closed magnetic valve 51, the conduit 6I, the con'- necting conduitl ,35, and the nozzle-supporting conduit-3 4.- 1

. Disposed exteriorly of' the 4,receptacle I'I and supportedV onv the cylindrical wall I3 thereof con tiguous to the closure. I9. is aV control panel t3. The control panel 63 includes a motor-control switch 64, valve-controlswitch 65 and pressure gauge 6E. As clearly shown in Figures. 1 and v7, the electrical system for the dusting machine .inf cludes the main cable or exten-sion cord 61 which isadapted to'beconnected to a suitable-source of electrical energy by means of the male plug 6B. One side 69 of the main cable61 is connected to the movable contacts of the switches 64 and B5, the fixed contact ofthe switch 64 being connected through the motor'52 -to the 'other side 10 of the line. Similarly, thev fixed contactof'the switch I 5- is connected Y i',hncugh themagnetic cond trol valve 51 to the other side of the line. Accordingly, the motor can be actuated by moving the switch 64 to a position wherein the movable contact engages the fixed contact and completes the electrical circuit for the motor. The magnetic control valve 61 can be actuated out of the closed position to connect the compressor 50 in communication with the air-injection nozzle 32 by lmoving the switchV 65 to a position wherein the movable contact engages the iixed contact.

Y The pressure gauge 66 is connected to the cou pling conduit 59 by means of a flexible conduit v`12 to thereby visually indicate the outlet air pressure of the compressor 50.

The combined oil separator and safety valve 5B, connected to the outlet of the compressor 50, releases airfrom the compressor when the control valve 51 precludes the flow of air from the compressor` to the air injection nozzle 32 and the air compressor is operating if the air pressure exceeds a predetermined value'. The safety valve is set to open when subjected to air pressure slightly above forty pounds per square inch.

Dependingly carried by the bottom I2 of the receptacle II are the casters 14 for movablyA supporting the receptacle for convenient transportation from place to place. It is tobe noted that the bottom I2 of the receptacle iI is provided with a cleanout port 15 for eiecting the removal of accumulations within the receptacle.

In actual use, the closure IS is manually removed, the closure being provided with a knob i5 facilitating the removal thereof. The removably supported rack 25 is removed from the supported position within the dusting chamber 24. and the clips 3l] are utilized to dependingly clip the gloves to be dusted beneath the arms 2,1 and 28 of the rack 25. As clearly illustrated in Figure l, the gloves lare supported in the curi area thereof by means of the clips. The rack 25 ijs replaced to its supported position in the dusting chamber 24 and the closure |9- once again arranged in bridging relation with respect to the receptacle. The motor 52 of the air compressor is actuated by moving the switch AE4 to the closed position. When the pressure gauge 66 indicates the pressure of approximately 40v pounds,l the switch. 64 is opened and the switch 65 closed, moving the magnetically actuated closed valve 56 to the open position. The switch 65 is held in the closed position for a period of approximately three or four seconds, during which time the compressed air accumulated in the oil separator and safety valve and in the conduits 5|, 58, 5S and 60, will be blown through the nozzle 32v and into the container I5. This quantity of compressed air is insufficient to displace the cover I9 or subject the receptacle II tor excessive internal pressure.v The switch 65 is then opened and after a period of ,approximately three to four minutes, during which time the dusting compound is permitted to settle, the closure i5 is removed.v After lightly shaking the rack 25, the dusted gloves may be removed from the clip and other gloves engaged therewith, and the dusting machine is ready to be reloaded. f -v Although only'oneembodiment ofthe dusting machine of the present inventionV has been described, it is readily apparent-that numerous modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. y

VWhat we claim is: l 41. Apparatus for dusting surgical gloves com- P1" 15mg 'means providing a dusting Ychamber naving an inverted conical bottom for holding dusting powder and an open upper end, means supporting said chamber in upright position, a removable closure closing the open upper end of said charnber, a glove-supporting rack removably mounted in said chamber adjacent said closure, an air compressor supported adjacent said chamber, an electric motor supported adjacent said fair compressor and drivingly connected thereto, a nozzle disposed within the inverted conical bottom of said chamber near the apical lower portion of said bottom, conduit means extending through said chamber providing means connecting the outlet of said air compressor to said nozzle, an electromagnetic valve interposed in said conduit means and normally closing the latter, land an energizing circuit for said motor and said electromagnetic valve including manually operated switches connected one to said motor for controlling the operation of said air compressor and one to said electromagnetic valve for controlling the passage of air compressed by said air compressor to said nozzle.

2. Apparatus for dusting surgical gloves comprising means providing a dusting chamber having an inverted conical bottom for holding dusting powder and an open upper end, means supporting said chamber in upright position, a removable closure closing ythe open upper end of said chamber, a glove-supporting rack removably mounted in said chamber adjacent said closure, an air compressor supported adjacent said chamber, an electric motor supported adjacent said air compressor and drivingly connected thereto, a nozzle disposed within the inverted conical bottom of said chamber near the apical lower portion of said bottom, conduit means extending through said chamber providing means connecting the outlet of said air compressor to said nozzle, an electromagnetic valve interposed in said conduit means and normally closing the latter, and an energizing circuit for said motor and said electromagnetic valve including manually operated switches connected one to said motor for controlling the operation of said air compressor and one to said electromagnetic valve for `controlling the lpassage of air compressed by said air compressor to said nozzle, said nozzle comprising a body having a cavity therein in communication with said conduit means and restricted passages radiating upwardly and outwardly from said cavity.

3. Apparatus for dusting surgical gloves comprising a conical container for holding dusting material, means supporting said container in inverted position, an annular wall extending upwardly from the upper end of said container providing a dusting chamber at the upper end of the container, a removable closure supported on the upper edge of said annular wall, a glove-supporting rack removably mounted in said dusting chamber adjacent the under side of said closure1 a nozzle disposed in said container adjacent the lower end thereof, said nozzle having an internal cavity and upwardly and outwardly inclined air passages extending radially from said cavity, Ian air compressor supported adjacent said container, an electric motor supported adjacent said cornpressor and drivingly connected thereto, conduit means connecting the outlet of said compressor to said nozzle in communication with the cavity in the latter, a combined oil separator and safety valve connected into said conduit means, an electromagnetic valve connected into said conduit means between said combined oil separator and safety valve and said nozzle and normally closing said conduit means, a pressure indicating gauge connected to said conduit means between said compressor and said electromagnetic valve, and an energizing circuit for said motor and said electromagnetic valve including independent manually operated switches one of which is connected to said motor to control the operation of said air compressor and the other of which is connected to said electromagnetic valve to control the passage of air compressed by said compressor to said nozzle.

ZESSIE M. DUNN. JOHN E. STREIT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 988,243 Bradley Mar. 28, 1911 1,876,251 Lehman Sept. 6, 1932 2,123,537 Mann July 12, 1938 2,419,835 Hester Apr. 29, 1947 2,456,342 Trevor Dec. 14, 1948 2,483,443 Spence Oct. 4, 1949 

